The Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles in the NHL Winter Classic continued on Tuesday as they suffered yet another disappointing loss, this time to the St. Louis Blues. A few of the Blackhawks’ key players were visibly frustrated and not shy about sharing their feelings. Despite having the most appearances in the league’s marquee outdoor event, the Blackhawks remain winless, and both Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall were more than annoyed. Nick Foligno called it embarrassing for the Blackhawks to lose 6-2 at home like they did. “Our fans deserve better, and it’s in this room for us to figure it out,” Foligno said.
Foligno added he thought this game would be a turning point for the team and that there will come a time when the fans are tired of hearing excuses. “No one’s going to help us out and we crumble instead of digging in.”
Held at the iconic Wrigley Field on New Year’s Eve, the 2025 Winter Classic was meant to be a grand celebration of Chicago’s history and hopefully a tease as to what’s coming in the future. Instead, it became a nightmare for the Blackhawks, who were outplayed from the opening puck drop. Bedard summed up the team’s performance by admitting they were “dog-walked.”
Chicago Sun-Times reporter Ben Pope wrote that veteran forward Taylor Hall appeared on the verge of tears while addressing reporters. “I’m shocked at how we played. It’s really disappointing,” Hall said. “Our fans have been through so much this year, and they really came and supported us today. For us to lay an egg like that, I’m really sad for the people that support us.”
The Blackhawks’ loss felt particularly painful given the event’s significance. The Winter Classic is one of the NHL’s most-watched games, and both Hall and Bedard discussed the high cost of tickets. If there was a game for the team to show up this season, the Winter Classic was it.
Frustration Mounts Amid Rebuild
For a rebuilding team, there are bound to be bad games. What the Blackhawks need to do is stay competitive, even when they lose. This game was the kind of showcase the Blackhawks needed to tell their fans there are bright days ahead. Instead, the team was awful. Bedard continues to shine as a future franchise cornerstone, but there was talk earlier this season that the team could already tell he was starting to grow frustrated. GM Kyle Davidson was open to a trade to bring him in some support. Perhaps Davidson should consider that idea again. The Blackhawks can’t afford to let Bedard feel like the team is taking steps backward.
Thousands of fans at Wrigley Field must now be wondering when—if ever—their team will deliver on its promise of a brighter future.
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